Low-energy shock tube connector system

Abstract

A shock tube connector system comprises a substantially cylindrical detonator having a longitudinal axis a block body receiving the detonator therein, and an end cap. The detonator includes an axisymmetric exterior shell including a cylindrical main section, a cylindrical explosive end portion having a diameter less than the diameter of the main section, and a transition portion connecting the main section and the explosive end portion of the shell. An explosive charge is contained within the explosive end portion of the shell and is distributed along the longitudinal length of the explosive end portion. The explosive charge preferable comprises two portions of lead azide or a first charge portion of lead azide and PETN and a second charge portion of PETN. An initiating shock tube is operatively connected to the explosive charge via a delay element. The block body includes a housing within which the main section of the detonator is received. A tube holder connected to one end of the housing includes a base member having a bore within which the explosive end portion of the detonator is received. The tube holder is T-shaped and includes a pair of engaging flanges spaced from the base member on laterally opposite sides of the base member to define therebetween pair of engaging slots extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the detonator and alongside the explosive end of the detonator received in the bore. Each engaging slot is adapted to frictionally grip at least four shock tubes alongside the explosive end of the detonator with the longitudinal axes of the shock tubes substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the detonator. The end cap is connected to the other end of the housing and secures the detonator within the block body.

We claim:  
     
       1. A shock tube connector system for transmitting a detonation signal to one or more shock tubes, comprising: 
       a. a substantially cylindrical detonator having a longitudinal axis, said detonator including:  
       an elongated exterior shell including a main section and an explosive end portion at one longitudinal end of said main section, and  
       an explosive charge contained within said explosive end portion of said shell, said explosive charge being distributed along the longitudinal length of said explosive end portion, whereby ignition of said explosive charge produces a laterally directed explosive force; and  
       b. a block body including:  
       a housing having a first end and a second end, said detonator being received in said housing with said explosive end of said detonator disposed adjacent said first end of said housing, and  
       a tube holder connected to said first end of said housing, said tube holder including at least one engaging slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said detonator and alongside said explosive end of said detonator received in said housing, said engaging slot being adapted to grip at least four shock tubes alongside said explosive end of said detonator with the longitudinal axes of the shock tubes substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said detonator.  
     
     
       2. A shock tube connector system for transmitting a detonation signal to one or more shock tubes, comprising: 
       a. a substantially cylindrical detonator having a longitudinal axis, said detonator including:  
       an elongated exterior shell including a main section and an explosive end portion at one longitudinal end of said main section,  
       an explosive charge contained within said explosive end portion of said shell, said explosive charge being distributed along the longitudinal length of said explosive end portion, whereby ignition of said explosive charge produces a laterally directed explosive force; and  
       b. a block body including:  
       a housing having a first end and a second end, said detonator being received within said housing with said explosive end portion of said detonator disposed adjacent said first end of said housing, and  
       a tube holder connected to said first end of said housing, said tube holder including a base member having a bore, said explosive end portion of said detonator being received within said bore, said tube holder including at least one engaging flange connected to and spaced from said base member, said base member and said engaging flange defining therebetween an engaging slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said detonator and alongside said explosive end of said detonator received in said bore, said engaging slot being adapted to frictionally grip a plurality of shock tubes alongside said explosive end of said detonator with the longitudinal axes of the shock tubes substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said detonator.  
     
     
       3. The connector block of  claim 2 , wherein said base member of said tube holder has a thickness substantially greater than the diameter of the explosive end of the detonator and a width substantially less than said thickness of said base member. 
     
     
       4. The connector block of  claim 3 , wherein said bore of said base member has a diameter greater than said width of said base member measured at said bore, whereby said bore opens into said engaging slot and permits direct contact between the explosive end of the detonator and the one or more shock tubes gripped in said engaging slot. 
     
     
       5. The connector block of  claim 2 , wherein said engaging slot has a length of at least about 12 mm. 
     
     
       6. The connector block of  claim 2 , wherein said base member has a width of about 4 mm at said bore and a thickness of about 15-25 mm. 
     
     
       7. The connector block of  claim 2 , wherein said base member has a width of about 4 mmn at said bore and a thickness of about 20 mm. 
     
     
       8. The connector block of  claim 2 , wherein said engaging flange has a width of about 5-7 mm and a thickness of about 15-20 mm. 
     
     
       9. The connector block of  claim 2 , wherein said engaging flange has a width of about 6 mm and a thickness of about 17 mm. 
     
     
       10. The connector block of  claim 2 , wherein said engaging flange includes a convex gripping surface facing said engaging slot. 
     
     
       11. The connector block of  claim 2 , wherein said engaging flange includes a gripping surface facing said engaging slot and a ridge projecting from said gripping surface into said engaging slot. 
     
     
       12. A shock tube connector system for transmitting a detonation signal to one or more shock tubes, comprising: 
       a. a substantially cylindrical detonator having a longitudinal axis, said detonator including:  
       an elongated exterior shell including a main section and an explosive end portion at one longitudinal end of said main section, said main section having a signal end longitudinally opposite said explosive end portion,  
       an explosive charge contained within said explosive end portion of said shell, said explosive charge being distributed along the longitudinal length of said explosive end portion, whereby ignition of said explosive charge produces a laterally directed explosive force, and  
       an initiating shock tube operatively connected to said explosive charge, said initiating shock tube entering said detonator at said signal end of said main section of said shell and being adapted to transmit an ignition signal to said detonator causing said explosive charge to ignite; and  
       b. a block body including:  
       a housing having a first end and a second end, said main section of said detonator being received within said housing and said explosive end portion of said detonator extending beyond said first end of said housing, and  
       a tube holder connected to said first end of said housing, said tube holder including a base member having a bore, said explosive end portion of said detonator being received within said bore, said tube holder including at least one engaging flange spaced from said base member, said base member and said engaging flange defining therebetween an engaging slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said detonator and alongside said explosive end of said detonator received in said bore, said engaging slot being adapted to frictionally grip a plurality of shock tubes alongside said explosive end of said detonator with the longitudinal axes of the shock tubes substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said detonator.  
     
     
       13. The shock tube connector system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
       c. an end cap connected to said second end of said housing, said end cap securing said detonator within said block body.  
     
     
       14. The shock tube connector system of  claim 12 , wherein said engaging slot has a length sufficient to grip at least four shock tubes. 
     
     
       15. A shock tube connector system, comprising: 
       a. a substantially cylindrical detonator having a longitudinal axis, said detonator including:  
       an elongated exterior shell including a main section and an explosive end portion at one longitudinal end of said main section, said main section having a signal end longitudinally opposite said explosive end portion,  
       an explosive charge contained within said explosive end portion of said shell, said explosive charge being distributed along the longitudinal length of said explosive end portion, whereby ignition of said explosive charge produces a laterally directed explosive force, and  
       an initiating shock tube operatively connected to said explosive charge, said initiating shock tube entering said detonator at said signal end of said main section of said shell and being adapted to transmit an ignition signal to said detonator causing said explosive charge to ignite; and  
       b. a block body including:  
       a housing having a first end and a second end, said main section of said detonator being received within said housing and said explosive end portion of said detonator extending beyond said first end of said housing, and  
       a tube holder connected to said first end of said housing, said tube holder including:  
       a base member having a bore, said explosive end of said detonator being received within said bore, said base member having one end connected to said first end of said housing and a distal end, and  
       a pair of engaging flanges disposed on substantially laterally opposite sides of said base member, each of said engaging flanges being spaced from said base member to define between said respective engaging flange and said base member an engaging slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said detonator and alongside said explosive end of said detonator, each of said engaging slots being adapted to frictionally grip a plurality of shock tubes alongside said explosive end of said detonator with the longitudinal axes of the shock tubes substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said detonator.  
     
     
       16. The shock tube connector system of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
       c. an end cap connected to said second end of said housing, said end cap securing said detonator within said block body.  
     
     
       17. The shock tube connector system of  claim 15 , wherein each of said engaging slots has a length sufficient to grip at least four shock tubes. 
     
     
       18. The shock tube connector system of  claim 15 , wherein said tube holder is substantially T-shaped and includes a cross member connecting said base member to said engaging flanges. 
     
     
       19. The shock tube connector system of  claim 5 , wherein said tube holder is substantially fork-shaped and includes a cross member connecting said base member to said engaging flanges adjacent said first end of said housing. 
     
     
       20. A shock tube connector system, comprising: 
       a. a substantially cylindrical detonator having a longitudinal axis, said detonator including:  
       an exterior shell, said shell including a cylindrical main section, a cylindrical explosive end portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said main section, and a transition portion connecting said main section and said explosive end portion of said shell, said shell being substantially axisymmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis of said detonator, and said main section having a signal end longitudinally opposite said explosive end portion,  
       an explosive charge contained within said explosive end portion of said shell, said explosive charge being distributed along the longitudinal length of said explosive end portion, and  
       an initiating shock tube operatively connected to said explosive charge, said initiating shock tube entering said detonator at said signal end of said main section of said shell and being adapted to transmit an ignition signal to said detonator causing said explosive charge to ignite;  
       b. a block body including:  
       a housing having a first end and a second end, said main section of said detonator being received within said housing and said explosive end portion of said detonator extending beyond said first end of said housing, and  
       a tube holder connected to said first end of said housing, said tube holder including a base member having a bore, said explosive end portion of said detonator being received within said bore, said tube holder including at least one engaging flange spaced from said base member, said base member and said engaging flange defining therebetween an engaging slot extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said detonator and alongside said explosive end of said detonator received in said bore, said engaging slot being adapted to frictionally grip a plurality of shock tubes alongside said explosive end of said detonator with the longitudinal axes of the shock tubes substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said detonator; and  
       c. an end cap connected to said second end of said housing, said end cap securing said detonator within said block body.  
     
     
       21. The shock tube connector system of  claim 20 , wherein said engaging slot has a length sufficient to grip at least four shock tubes. 
     
     
       22. A shock tube connector system, comprising: 
       a. a substantially cylindrical detonator having a longitudinal axis, said detonator including:  
       an exterior shell, said shell including a cylindrical main section, a cylindrical explosive end portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said main section, and a transition portion connecting said main section and said explosive end portion of said shell, said shell being substantially axisymmetric with respect to said longitudinal axis of said detonator, and said main section having a signal end longitudinally opposite said explosive end portion,  
       an explosive charge contained within said explosive end portion of said shell, said explosive charge being distributed along the longitudinal length of said explosive end portion, and  
       an initiating shock tube operatively connected to said explosive charge, said initiating shock tube entering said detonator at said signal end of said main section of said shell and being adapted to transmit an ignition signal to said detonator causing said explosive charge to ignite;  
       b. a block body including:  
       a housing having a first end and a second end, said main section of said detonator being received within said housing and said explosive end portion of said detonator extending beyond said first end of said housing, and  
       a tube holder connected to said first end of said housing, said tube holder including:  
       a base member having a bore, said explosive end of said detonator being received within said bore, said base member having one end connected to said first end of said housing and a distal end,  
       a cross member connected to said distal end of said base member and extending substantially orthogonally with respect to said longitudinal axis of said detonator, and  
       a pair of engaging flanges depending from said cross member and extending toward said housing on substantially laterally opposite sides of said base member, each of said engaging flanges being spaced from said base member to define between said respective engaging flange and said base member an engaging slot, each of said engaging slots being adapted to frictionally grip a plurality of shock tubes alongside said explosive end of said detonator with the longitudinal axes of the shock tubes substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said detonator; and  
       c. an end cap connected to said second end of said housing, said end cap securing said detonator within said block body.